Diamondsong 01: Escape

by E. D. E. Bell

  In some sense she was concerned that she had not yet fully processed the events, to measure her own well-being against such shock and change. Yet there was no sense in pondering whether it could be possible—whether this could all have happened, when she knew that it had. And now, unable to walk and her arm still encased in hard mud, Dime could not imagine what any of this was about: why they had approached her, and why now.

  It was time to start figuring it out.

  Her ankle was tender but correctly sized; she almost felt she could try walking on it again, though she knew pushing too fast would set her back even more. Luja had taught her that, at least. She intended to wait just a little longer. But not much.

  As for her arm, she considered taking off the mud, but without anything better to treat it or even filtered water to wash it properly, she held off at least until she decided to leave. Sol had risen many bells ago; perhaps she would be wiser to wait through the next night.

  Damp and cold from the constantly blowing Sha breeze, barely sustained by the meager rations the newts generously shared with her, and constantly thirsty from relying on Juni to take her to fresh water, Dime could not stay here this way. Perhaps, if she were well, she could construct a home, build a fire, and scavenge for food. But she was not well, and she missed her family.

  Her biggest worry wasn’t their safety, for she had great trust in Dayn’s abilities. But she knew they would be worried about her. Whatever the fairies were up to, she didn’t think they would get word back to the Ja-lal that Dime had fallen off of the cliff and was probably dead. But she didn’t know. She had no clue regarding their motivations in any of this. In fact, believing now that they were keeping the newts from the richness of the forest, Dime’s resentment of the winged pyrsi grew.

  As long as she stayed here, Dime had time to think. And it wasn’t just frustration toward the Fo-ror that grew. All her cycles in the IC, monitoring the conduct of Ja-lal citizens in the name of peace, and there had been an entire second civilization of pyrsi living just beyond their boundaries. They hadn’t studied them, asked about them, even assessed them from a distance. Their eyes averted, they lived their lives focusing on the greatness of their own society, with their neighbors reduced to whispers and superstitions. To lore.

  She’d brought up researching the fairies once at the far-sur den, the second one she’d been trying to reach before she fell. The reaction to even a mention of the beings had been so swift, so horrified, that she’d not brought them up again, and back in the safety of Lodon with deadlines, management, and other projects on her mind, the idea had faded.

  Back in the towers, sentiments on the subject had been clear. Any contact, it was said, would return the Violence to Ada-ji. That was just the nature of the fairies. Well, the fairies had returned anyway. And now what? The Ja-lal were wholly uninformed. Wholly unprepared. If one believed the fairies were a real threat, then what sort of strategy was this, and—most difficult to consider—why had no one questioned it?

  The Free Winds. Ador’s organization, the Free Winds—they had questioned it. She had heard this in rumors, that they talked openly of the fairies, of reaching out to them. Working in the Circles, Dime and Dayn could not become involved with such a controversial organization. Despite their close friendship with Ador, Dime had not asked much, and Ador had never pressed. The fallacy of Dime’s thoughts struck her like a cold wind, and a sick feeling grew in her gut.

  How have I been so ignorant? So controlled?

  She was eager to talk to Ador when she returned home. That said, she had no idea how to even start returning to Lodon. Her compass didn’t seem to be working right, but she could at least tell nor and sur from the shadows.

  Perhaps the cliff might have some sections she could climb more easily than others, but she didn’t enjoy the idea of searching on her own without supplies or a toothcar for Sol knew how long to see if she could find a way back. And, she had to admit to herself, crossing Ada-ji in a tattered jacket and thong rattled every one of her Ja-lal sensitivities, regardless of what the newts didn’t think about it.

  Dime, so recently considered for Light’s Circle! She laughed aloud, picturing Sala seeing her now. Besides being mostly naked with her arm crusted in mud, pinpricks of white hair had started to grow in across her scalp, peeking through her tattoos. No, by the time Sala was done ordering her to shave, Dime wouldn’t be able to count her hemsa while on her way to some outer ring or outlaw village.

  Well, harm that. And Sala wasn’t here.

  But, a tall figure walked across the sandy land. Dime blinked. The figure was still there. Dime’s instincts kicked in and she realized she should either be running toward the lone figure or running away from xem. Her ankle as it was, though, she sat there. And waited. The dice would fall where they would, this time.

  As the figure approached, Dime could see with relief that xe was not a fairy. No wings protruded from xyr back nor was there any cloak or wrap that could conceal them, as her pursuers had worn. Nor was it Sala, as absurd as that would have been.

  The figure appeared to start, seeing Dime sitting alone in the sand. The pyr turned, heading straight her way. Feeling a bit silly, Dime waved.

  The pyr was Ja-lal, but without prominent markings indicating class or status. Xe wore a simple tunic, with a large drooping bag slung across on a wide strap. Xyr tattoos were fallen leaves, each of a different level of clarity and wear, a sign of age. Dime guessed xe was a Dorh, one epoch older than Dime, by the grace in xyr walk and the darkening color of xyr skin. No hemsa marked xyr face, not that Dime was prejudiced by such things. The pyr drew near.

  “Fe’Ella,” she offered, fanning her fingers in greeting.

  Dime fanned the only fingers she had available. “Fe’Dime.” After that, she wasn’t sure what to say. The circumstances were, after all, quite odd. Yet there was something familiar about Ella, with the small leaves over her cheekbones and the draping scarf around her neck. Dime didn’t think she had seen her before.

  Shifting in the sand, Dime glanced around, nervous that Juni would pop in and startle the visitor.

  Ella’s eyes rested on Dime a moment: her face, her necklace, and her jacket. Probably noting Dime’s discomfort, she was polite enough not to look further.

  “You’ve put yourself in a whole bucket of pickles, haven’t you?” Ella shook her head, letting the large bag thump down onto the sand.

  “What?” Dime’s mind was racing, trying to figure out who this was while not being distracted by self-consciousness regarding her own now almost disintegrating thong. Ella appeared to read her mind.

  “Hey, I brought clothes. Wasn’t sure of your size so they’re generic. And we’ll need to knock that mud off and check your arm. They know some basics here and it probably held you over, but I brought bandages and balm. Splints if we need them, but I’m hoping we don’t.” Ella started to rummage through the bag then paused. “Glad to see you’re clean, anyway. You never know how they’ll take to pyrsi. And I sure don’t blame them.”

  Ella chuckled, looking Dime over. “Someone has taken a right fascination to you, hasn’t xe?”

  “Uh, I call her Juni. She’s got a band of light feathers.” Dime gestured to her own shoulders.

  “Oh!” Ella exclaimed. “The little one. Yes, perfect. What did the leader think of it?”

  Dime squinted. “Er, Stern Eyes? I mean, I call her that. She seems to be going with it. They had some sort of talk after they laughed at me that first time, so Juni mostly keeps me away from the group area.”

  “Laugh? Hmm—” Ella mused while pulling out some plain garments. “Doesn’t sound like them. Oh! Here she comes. Ooh,” she added. “Let me knock that gunk off now; I don’t want her getting protective about it.”

  “Yes, I’m worried that it’s—”

  Juni picked up speed and screeched as she saw Ella cracking at the dried mud with a handpick.
Ella spun around and made a slow noise, like a cooing sound. Juni stopped, and plopped onto the sand with a face that looked just like a ch’pyr’s pout. Barking out a few sounds of her own including something about the Fo-ror, Juni quieted and stared off at the sky. Ella paused, and several strides passed before she turned back around.

  “Does she understand you?” Dime asked.

  “I get by,” was all Ella said, as she poured water over Dime’s bare, shriveled, arm. Dime winced, seeing that while Juni had cleaned it within reason, there was a film of pus over the wound, as she had feared. “I don’t think it’s broken,” Ella said under her breath, as if talking to herself.

  Juni continued to pout as Ella cleaned, treated, and wrapped Dime’s arm, then turned away as Dime abandoned her makeshift undergarment for good, thankful for the clean set that included a snug breast wrap.

  Feeling better already, she slipped on an adjustable tunic and a baggy pair of pants. They were a simple cotton, lighter in both texture and color than her preferred dark velour suits, but after her bout of unintended nakedness they looked as fine as one of Sala’s designer suits. She’d never been so grateful.

  Dime flushed as she rolled up the cuff of each leg. She tried not to be self-conscious about her height, but comments from pyrsi over the cycles had made her wary.

  “I don’t wear heels,” Dime said. “Never have. I’m the way I was made I guess.” Why am I explaining myself?

  Ella looked like she had something to say.

  “What?” Dime asked.

  “Nothing for now. Except, our friend here, she’s feeling a touch left out.” Ella shuffled over to Juni’s side, giving her a huge lick across the face and scratching her neck. Dime winced, but Juni rumbled in delight.

  Dime watched in astonishment as Ella and Juni had a whole conversation in moans and clicks and gestures. Some of the words almost sounded like language, while others were strictly newt. Dime started to wonder if every turn she lived now was destined to get more bizarre, like Tale of the Winding Tunnel or some such nonsense.

  Now, Dime wished she had asked Ella a few questions when she first arrived, rather than gape at her and flush about being naked. Maybe like “Who are you?” or “Why are you here?” or “Can you promise you aren’t in league with the fairies?” But, she trusted Juni. So, then.

  Wanting continued use of its pouches, she reached for her now grubby work jacket and wrenched it over her soft, clean clothes. Oh, her arm felt better in the soft and flexible bandage. She tested the motion of her arm, moving it side to side with some stiffness. It seemed fine, so long as the wound continued to heal. Content, she turned back to Ella.

  “Do you have any idea what’s going on? With me?”

  “Not very much,” Ella answered.

  Not very? But, oh!

  “The witch of the woods!” Dime exclaimed. Ella rolled her eyes so effectively it was as if they had just orbited Ada-ji. But, wasn’t that where she had heard the description? Leaves, scarves, and a curved wood staff. The mysterious witch who lived on the edge of the untouched forest, hexing anyone who passed near.

  Ch’pyrsi were told that the Circles had planted her there to ward the fairies away. Dime, working in the Circles, knew there was no such thing and had dismissed all of it as a false, though persistent, story.

  Dime was going to have to start taking stories more seriously.

  Though, she noticed, Ella didn’t have a staff. And from Ella’s reaction, Dime had struck a nerve.

  “Lovely,” Ella snapped in a tone that set Dime back.

  “I’m sorry,” Dime offered. “It just . . . came to mind. Honestly, Ella, I have no idea what’s happened. I have no idea why I’m here or what happens now.” Trust or no trust, she was tired. Dime spilled everything like a guilty ch’pyr.

  “I was at home and the fairies burst into my living room from the outer stairwell, I guess through the window, so no one would see them in the tower. I don’t know about fairies, so I have no idea how they know about me. They tried to touch or take me or something, to give me a rest, and I got away.” She watched for Ella to react, but her expression stayed blank. “They chased me over the plains and I got too close to the cliff, and—” Dime remembered with a twinge of discomfort the huge explosion that had obscured her view “—I fell over the cliff and hurt my arm and foot.

  “Then I was saved by newts, who, I’m sure you know, I’d heard as much good about as the fairies, and Juni here, well—” Dime looked over to see the newt’s face wrinkled with concern at Dime’s distressed tone. “Ella, she saved me. I hope you can tell her how grateful I am. And if you can help me, I need to go back to Sol’s Reach. I can’t draw the fairies back to Lodon, but I also can’t let my family continue to worry. If you can get me back to Sol’s Reach, I can take it from there.”

  Ella finally shook her head and let a huge sigh, causing Juni to jump back. “It’s a lot, Dime. I don’t know, myself. Let’s get you out of here and we’ll sort it all out. Try to, anyway. That witch business too. But first, our friends.” She threw a wave and a few sounds at Juni, who seemed annoyed as she swooped Dime up into the air.

  “Whoops! Careful!” Dime reprimanded. Juni ignored the caution and ran off at full speed with Dime in her arms, leaving Ella to pick up the rest of her things.

  The other newts had already gathered as Juni ran screaming toward them. She and Stern Eyes conversed with such speed and intensity that she doubted Ella could have understood it. When they were done, everyone sat back and waited.

  Stern Eyes picked her teeth with a reed, not looking anywhere near Dime. Dime, however, was cradled tightly in Juni’s arms, not much able to move.

  “Juni,” she whispered. “Friends. We are friends.” Dime smiled up at her as best she could.

  Juni’s grip relaxed, and she placed one of her hands over Dime’s chest. Dime felt a sensation in her heart. A strange feeling, as if she were touched by Juni’s love, reaching out past a wall of anger. Juni removed her hand, uttering a sound that sounded a lot like, “friend.” Still touched by her unexpected wave of emotion, Dime realized how true that was.

  A couple of takes later, Ella appeared in the distance, lugging the bag over her shoulder without anything close to either hurry or concern. Dragging the bag up, she left it behind her as she walked under the overhang, right to where Stern Eyes was seated.

  Ella motioned away from where they sat, adding a slow series of noises. Dime heard the word for Fo-ror. Ella nodded, and pointed again in the direction Dime believed to be back toward her home, the land of the Ja-lal. Stern Eyes finally turned her gaze to Dime, who was certain she was being assessed. She couldn’t guess for what. Ella pointed toward Dime and cooed.

  Stern Eyes broke her stare and responded to Ella with agitated clicks and a narrowed face. Wheezing, Juni rushed forward and set her down in front of Ella. Dime’s rear bumped onto the ground, and Dime was glad she at least had clothes now. “Hey,” she murmured. “Careful with the pyr. I’ve only got one butt.” One of the newts chortled.

  Juni continued her heavy breathing and Dime tried to offer her a smile. Juni wasn’t looking.

  Ella spoke again with the newts, and one ran off, returning with a long water-worn tree branch. Ella inspected it, tapping it against the ground. “Hmm,” she conceded, handing it to Dime. “I think you can walk with this. Just go slow and we’ll rest when needed.”

  Dime stood cautiously, leaning against the large staff. Though it was stiff, she was surprised to feel less pain in her ankle; it seemed to be much better. “Thank you,” she said to the newt who had found the stick. He bobbed and bared his teeth in response.

  Noticing Juni’s distress, a knot turned in Dime’s heart. She had grown up being told that the newts were the most dangerous of all animals. Frightening. Unworthy. And here, this friend had saved her, and would save her again if she had the chance.

  Di
me wanted to thank her. An idea struck, and she hobbled over to the young newt. “Here, for you. For your burrow.” Dime found the jade lizard she’d tucked into her jacket and held it out, as smooth and translucent as when it had been given to her by her old Circlemate. “They say it’s for wisdom. I don’t know; you seem pretty wise. But, well. For you.”

  With a squeal, Juni said nothing Dime could interpret as a goodbye but instead ran off, not toward the water but toward the forest. Around them, other newts stomped and grunted.

  “Extra pickles,” Ella muttered.

  “What?” Dime whispered.

  “In a few,” the older fe’pyr murmured.

  With a few more words to Stern Eyes, Ella and Dime set off in a new direction, one Dime hoped would lead to Sol’s Reach.

  “So what was that last part?” Dime asked.

  “Oh, the gift? You recognized the cub as leader of the troop.”

  Dime stopped, wobbling on her staff. “Wait? Was that an insult to Stern Eyes?”

  Ella looked as if she’d said something absurd. “It certainly wasn’t a compliment.”

  “Then we’re going back! Come on. Stern Eyes is the only reason they didn’t sail me away on Sha; we aren’t leaving this way. What else do we have? That I could offer?” Ella stood and stared. “There’s got to be something that’s better.” Ador’s gift was off the table if there was any other option. And she didn’t think Stern Eyes would understand her compass.

  “Ok. We have our food for the way back,” Ella said in monotone. “I get grumpy when I’m hungry myself, but I do see your point. Anyway, we can restock at the Crossing. We’ll make it work.”

  Dime shook off a vague idea of what a crossing might be, as her eyes lit up at the sight of Ella’s huge shoulder-strapped bag. “Not just the food. That bag. May I?”

  “Oh, sure!” Ella said with an irritation that Dime hoped wasn’t too serious. Ella rummaged through the bag, moving the balms, bandages, and a few tools into pouches on her tunic.